Motor-vehicle



H. D. CHURCH.

I MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1916.

. Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. 0'. CHURCH.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. I916.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HAROLD D. CHURCH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNQR TO PACKARD MOTOR.CARCOMPANY, OF DETROE'Z. MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Application filed May 6, 1916. Serial No. 95,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD D. CHURCH, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Detroit, l/Vayne county, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of whichthe following is a specification,

This invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly. to the axlestructure thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a built-up axlestructure withparticularly strong and sturdy characteristics. In theform-of the invention shown the axle is particularly adapted for use onheavy commercial vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a particularly strong andefiicient driving connection between the driving axle sections and thewheels of the vehicle.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in con nection with the drawings which form a part ofthis specification, and in which- Figure l is a vertical section andpart elevation of an axle embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line of 'Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and at are enlarged detail views of the driving plate; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of the outer end of one of thedriving axle sections.

Referring to the drawings, the stationary built-up axle structurecomprises five principalparts, the middle part 10 having alined tubularextensions 11, the two tubes 12, one for each of the extensions 11, andthe two tubular pieces 13 which surround the outer parts of the tubes 12and are secured to the middle part 10. Each tube 12 is shown as fittingtightly within one of the extensions 11 and as being provided with anannular flange 14 intermediate its ends and in contact with the outerend of the said extension 11. This flange positions the tube in theextension and the tubular piece 13 fitting snugly on the tube 12 andagainst the flange 14: holds the tube rigidly in place. The extension 11and piece 13 have annular flanges 15 and 16 res pectively and bolts 17secure these flanges together. l Vith this very rigid construction themiddle part of the axle 10 and the piece 18 may be castings and the tube12 may be Specification of Letters-Patent;

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

a heavy steel tube upon which'the wheel 18 is mounted.

Arranged axially within the tubes 12 and having their inner ends inwithdrawable connection with the difierential are a pair of driving axlesections 53. These axle sections 53 are entirely out of contact'with theinterior of: the tubes 12, being supported at vided for attachingapuller device for withdrawing" the axle section in case it shouldstick. The spherical surface 58 is well indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 bythe radius lines 60 and 61, respectively.

The wheel 18 above referred to, has a hub 62 which is mounted insuitable separated bearings63, 64, shown as tapered roller bearings, theinner bearing 63 abutting against the outer end of the tubular piece 13and ,both bearings being held in place on the tube 12 by a suitablylocked nut 65. The bearflanges 66 and 67 interiorly of the hub 62.

The outer end of the hub 62 is formed with suitable driving recesses 68,and as shown these recesses are in a detachable plate 69 secured to theouter end of the hub proper. The securing means comprises a series ofbolts 70 passing through the plate 69 and through a fiange ll on the endof the hub proper. Said bolts 70 also extend beyond the plate 69 andthrough suitable openings ina hubcap 7 2 which covers the endof thedriving shaft section 53 andcloses the outer end of the hub 62. Nuts 73secure the hub cap in place.

The recesses 68 above referred to have suitable flat sides 74 whichengage the flat the outer end of lngs are held in separated position bythe plate 69 and in particular it is centered by the spherical surfaces58 on the lugs 56, con t racting with the cylindrical surfaces in therecesses 68. This, of course, makes a line contact between the axlesection and the plate 69 for centering the axle and a large surfacecontact between the side surfaces of the lugs and of the recesses forcommunicating the driving effort from one point to the other. This linecontact for centering the shaft is particularly advantageous in a heavycommercial vehicle construction because of the 'looseness that isinherently necessary in large bearings such as is shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. The wheel 18 must necessarily have some small amount of weaverelative to the tube 12 upon which it is mounted, and the slightrelative movement that thereby results between the hub ofthe wheel andthe driving shaft section 53 is readily taken care of by theconstruction illustrated and described.

Referring further to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the inner end of thehub 62 is closed by a suitable plate 76 and felt washer 77 mounted onthe outer end of the tubular piece 13, thus preventing the leakage ofoil or the entrance of dirt.

The wheel 18 is provided with a suitable brake drum 78 and brakes 79cooperative therewith, bcing mounted on arms 80 and 81 shown as formedintegral with the tubular piece 13. Intermediate the ends of said piece13 the latter also supports a spring pad 82 upon which ismounted aspring 83 secured thereto by suitable spring clips 84:. Suitable radiusrods'85 may also be secured to the spring pad 82.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may bemadewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the in vention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patcut is I I 1. In an axle, the combination with a stationarysupporting structure, of a wheel mounted at the end thereof and havingmore than two driving recesses, and a driving shaft in said supportingstructure having driving lugs adapted to fit said recesses, there beinglinecontact only between the ends of said'lugs and said recesses forcentering said shaft;

2. In an axle, the combination with a stationary supporting structure,of a wheel mounted at the end thereof and having more than two drivingrecesses, and a driving shaft in said supporting structure havingdriving lugs adapted to fit said recesses, the ends of said lugs beingof spherical form and the inner surfaces of'said recesses being ofcylindrical form.

3. In an axle, the combination with a stationary supporting structure,of a wheel of cylindrical form of substantiallythe same radius as thespherical end of said lugs.

a. In an axle, the combination with a stationary supporting structure,of a wheel mounted on bearings at theend thereof, a driving axle sectionin said supporting structure and. having driving lugs at its outer end,said lugs having spherical ends, and'a driving plate secured to saidwheel and having driving recesses therein, the lugs of said axle sectionbeing adapted to operate in said driving recesses.

5. In an axle, the combinationwith a stationary supporting structure, ofa wheel mounted on bearings at the end thereof and having more than twodriving recesses, the

inner surfaces of said recesses forming sections of cylinders, and adriving axlesec= tion in said supporting structure and having drivinglugs at its'outer end, said lugs having spherical ends andarranged tooperate in said. recesses.

6. In an axle, the combination with a stationary supporting structure,of a "wheel mounted on bearings at the end thereof and having more thantwo driving recesses, and a driving axle section in said supportingstructure and having driving lugs at its outer end, said lugs and saidrecesses being so formed as to have a line contact between the ends ofthe lugsand the inner surface of the recesses. V r

7. In an axle, the combination with astationary supporting structure, ofa wheel mounted on separated cooperating roller bearings at the end ofsaid structure, said wheel having a series of driving recesses formed inits hub, and a driving axle section in said supporting structure'andhaving driving lugs adapted to enter said driving recesses in the wheel,sa dlugs and'recesses being so formed as to permit slight universalmovement between the wheel and the driving section while constantlymaintaining line contact between the ends of the lugs and the innersurfaces of the recesses;

8. In an axle, the combination withastationary supporting tube, of awheel mounted on bearings on'said tube and having a hub extending to theend of said tube, a driving axle section in said tube and having a headextending laterally to adjacent the hub end, and a substantially flatdriving plate secured to the end of the hub and having a drivingconnection with the shaft head.

9. In an axle, the combination with a stationary supporting structure,of a wheel mounted on bearings at the end thereof,- a driving plate atthe outer end of the hub of said Wheel, securing bolts extending throughsaid plate and into the hub of said wheel for securing said plate tosaid hub, said bolts extending beyond said plate, a hub cap fitted oversaid plate and having openings for said bolt ends, nuts on said boltends securing said hub cap to the plate, and a driving axle section insaid supporting structure and having a driving connection with saiddriving plate.

10. In combination, an axle having a stationary supporting structure, aWheel mounted on said supporting structure, a driving and a drivingconnection between said shaft and sald wheel, comprising drlvlng lugscarrled by one of said members, and drivlng recesses formed on-the othermember, the

ends of the lugsbeing of spherical form With the center of the sphereapproximately in the axis of the shaft and the inner surfaces of the,recesses being cylindrical in form. 1 V v V In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

HAROLD D. CHURCH.

7 shaft mounted in said supporting structure,

